Gainsborough: Young writer shortlisted for national award in ground-breaking writing competition

Published:10:50Tuesday 30 June 2015

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A budding young writer from Queen Elizabeth High School, Gainsborough has been shortlisted in a ground-breaking national competition that recognises emerging young literary talent.

Jonathan Wilson who will find out if he is a winner of the acclaimed Lancaster Writing Awards when the awards are announced later this month.

The distinguished judging panel includes Terry Eagleton, one of the world’s best-known literary critics, Paul Farley, one of Britain’s most eminent poets; and Jenn Ashworth, a leading young British novelist.

Jonathan said: “It’s an honour to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award. It would be great to win and I’m thrilled to even make the shortlist.”

Patricia Baker, Jonathan’s form tutor at Queen Elizabeth High School, said: “We’re delighted by Jonathan success, and regardless of the eventual outcome we are very happy his talent has been recognised in this way.”

Top prize in each of the categories is £200 and the winning young writers will see their work on the pages of prestigious literary journal Cake.

Now in their third year, the awards are organised by Lancaster University’s English and Creative Writing Department, which is part of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).

Winners are set to be announced at a special awards event similar to the 2014 Sixth Form conference held at Lancaster in July last year.

Winners will enjoy a cream tea with some of the judges and members of the department.

As well as their cash prizes, they will also be presented with their copy of Cake by its editor Finn Jackson, who is a Lancaster University Creative Writing graduate.

Professor Sally Bushell, Head of Lancaster’s English and Creative Writing department, said: “We were delighted to receive so many entries from all over the country for the Lancaster Writing Awards 2015.”

“Once again, the standard of work from the entrants was tremendously impressive.

“The aim of these awards is to encourage and recognise new talent and, on the basis of these entries, it is clear that this talent is abundantly evident. Congratulations to Jonathan for being shortlisted.”